The Knicks, who lose two western losers, will end their trip with four games Tuesday night in Utah.
If the Knicks looked gassed during their games in Sacramento and Portland, it’s no illusion. So says security guard Austin Rivers, who has become the most open player on a team since signing up as a free agent in November.
The game in Utah marks the end of the Knicks pandemic plan in which they have 12 of their first 19 on the street played. Not only are they fighting against their opponents, but also against the numerous COVID-19 road trip logs contained in an 82-page NBA document.
« Oh, we are definitely tired, » Rivers said after the Shootaround on Tuesday morning. “Our schedule, I would challenge anyone to set their schedule against ours. I don’t know how a schedule could be harder than what we played. Physically and mentally. At the same time, it is what it is. Here we are. «
The Knicks set an 8-10 record in their first 18 games – a lot better than preseason expectations. But head coach Tom Thibodeau keeps a short rotation and with injuries key players have played monster minutes .
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett never missed a game and recently played 1-2 minutes in the NBA.
Currently, Randle is second on average minutes (36.7), while Barrett is after a bankruptcy on Sunday in the fourth quarter in Portland for the sixth time (36.2) in a virtual tie.
Barrett looked like he had nothing left in the tank against the Blazer and ended with eight points after a six-game Spree when he averaged 21 points.
« We’re tired but we’re ready to go, » said Rivers. « You know what I mean? I just have to go out there and compete and figure out how to win games every night. I think the biggest thing about when you have a long season is the best way to approach these games is to try to make a positive impact on everything. We lost two in a row, but at the same time we won our first game on this road trip. « In fact, the Knicks began the journey with a sweeping 119-104 defeat to Golden State, which Stephen Curry bottled in San Francisco in the second half. But they stalled in Sacramento and Portland.
In In the latter case, the Knicks faced a very rested team that had a week off due to COVID-19 cancellations, the Knicks falling 70:50 at halftime before making a late attack behind rookie Immanuel Quickley to close at 3 lose.
After Utah, 11 of the next 16 games of the Knicks are in the fanless garden, starting with Cleveland on Friday.
« We can finish this road trip 2-2,500, that’s solid, » Rivers said before the game in Utah. « We can end this trip 2-2 and go home. So we have to look at it now. « It would be a great feeling for us to come here – this is the hottest team in the NBA that we play. Utah plays better basketball than anyone in the NBA. So if we were one If you beat a team like this, that would be huge for us, so we have to see it that way. «
Thursday will also mark the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death. Rivers met Bryant and the Lakers were something of a mentor. Rivers said Bryant would always go to see him after the games to leave a review.
« I don’t mean to say he didn’t seem human – but it’s the same thing someone like LeBron (James) has, » said Rivers . “These guys move differently. You are not a basketball player. You are basketball. When you see someone like this walking, life feels so fragile and you feel so human. “
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